Italy extends preventative detention to minors after Milan riots

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is moving to approve a package of emergency security measures following violent clashes in Milan that escalated from protests over rising living costs. The government plans to introduce stricter rules, including extending preventative detention powers to minors and imposing tighter restrictions on group gatherings. These actions are expected to be formalized in a decree law as early as Tuesday, according to reports from the Corriere della Sera. The move comes after Meloni chaired an emergency security meeting on Monday afternoon to assess the situation, although no official announcements have been released yet.

The unrest began over the weekend when more than 5,000 people gathered in Milan to demonstrate against economic pressures. While many protesters were peaceful, the situation deteriorated into chaos as masked individuals threw paving stones, bins, and chairs at police officers. Law enforcement responded with tear gas and water cannons. The violence resulted in the detention of more than 250 people, with Italian police noting that 80 percent of those detained were minors. Specifically, of the 271 people taken to police stations on Sunday, 32 were arrested, including 23 minors, and 28 were reported to judicial authorities. The disorder also caused significant property damage, with stores looted and set on fire, leading high-end shops in the city center to close early on Monday and board up their windows in fear of further attacks.

Meloni has firmly distinguished between the right to protest and the act of destruction, stating that hooligans exploited the demonstrations to sow chaos. She emphasized that while demonstrating is a fundamental right, laying cities to waste is not. The prime minister called on her political opponents to condemn the rioting unambiguously, arguing that any hesitation in doing so serves to justify the violence. In response, Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein stated that her party has always condemned violence. However, she warned against using the riots as a pretext to stifle the voices of peaceful protesters who are struggling to make ends meet. Schlein highlighted that the unrest should not overshadow the legitimate grievances of citizens facing economic hardship.

The events in Milan are part of a broader trend of youth-led protests across Europe that have occasionally turned violent. Similar clashes have been reported in France, Spain, and Albania in recent weeks. Milanese Mayor Giuseppe Sala described the situation as a new phenomenon that originates from an international scenario and feeds itself. He expressed concern over the widespread damage, citing smashed shop windows, looted stores, and frightened citizens. The violence did not stay contained to Milan, as reports emerged of similar disorder in other northern Italian cities. In Turin, people were detained for carrying cobblestones and window-breaking hammers, while a train station in Bologna was closed as a precaution. The situation has added political pressure on Meloni, who is facing a national election next year, as she navigates the balance between maintaining public order and respecting civil liberties.